In this study, the student texts and teacher guides of two reading intervention programs for at-risk, first-grade students were analyzed and compared: Fountas and Pinnell's "Leveled Literacy Intervention" (LLI) and Scott Foresman's "My Sidewalks" (MS). The analyses drew on the framework of available theory and…

The purpose of this article is to understand the function, logic, and impact of qualitative systems for analyzing text complexity, focusing on their benefits and imperfections. We identified two primary functions for their use: (a) to match texts to reader ability so that readers read books that are within their grasp, and (b) to unearth, and then…

The Common Core State Standards represent the first standards document to address whether students are able to read progressively more complex texts as they progress across the grades. This article gives an overview of the three components of the model of text complexity that were identified in Appendix A of the Standards and also were the basis…

Core reading programs have a tremendous influence over reading instruction in the United States. Federal policies such as Reading First put increasing pressure on schools to implement a core reading program. While core reading programs contain a wide variety of suggested strategies and activities, they may not provide sufficient text or volume of…

In this review, texts used in the research on which the National Reading Panel based its conclusions in its 2000 report about the role of fluency in reading and its sensitivity to practice were grouped in 4 categories. Three of these text categories (pre-1990 basals, skill builders, and high-interest/low-vocabulary texts) used controlled…

Since the late 1980s, reading reform efforts in California and Texas have led to changes in beginning reading textbooks. This article examines the effects of these policies on the task that current (2000/2001) texts pose for beginning readers. I begin by reviewing trends in textbooks over the past 80 years and continue by identifying cognitive and…

Examined the number and types of classroom writing experiences in which elementary teachers and children in grades one, three, and five were engaged. Two major influences on instructional practices also were analyzed: teachers' perceptions of writing instruction and textbook guidelines. (DST)

Identifies the premise underlying all articles in this special issue and provides a synopsis of each article. Articles are premised on the belief that programs for young children should not be replicas of the elementary grades. (RH)

A review of research indicates that current beginning reading practices typically emphasize discrete skills that fail to take advantage of young children's emergent literacy abilities. Suggestions for strengthening the match between young children's emergent literacy and instructional experiences are offered. (RH)

Uses a task perspective to examine literature-based and skills-oriented approaches to literacy in second and sixth grade classes. Results confirm that the literature-based method encourages higher order thinking, whereas the skills-oriented method promotes performance of small, simple tasks. (DG)